Wayne golf team prepares for sectional tourney

Soukup named GWOC Central Coach of the Year, three players named to Central squad

Members of the Wayne golf team from left to right include Seth Marks, Howie Viau, James Frantz, James Harness, Hunter Vaughn, Bryce Haney, Riley Brown, Zach Johnson, A.J. Henry and head coach Jon Soukup.

Photo by Greg Smart

SPRINGBORO — The Wayne golf team closed out the regular season at Heatherwood on Tuesday and placed second in a tri-match. Host Springboro shot a 153 to take top honors while Wayne shot a 164 and Troy had a 169 in cold and rainy conditions.

“I was…impressed with our 164 considering that James Harness didn’t have a very good day and shot a 45,” said Wayne Coach Jon Soukup. “I was real pleased with how Zach Johnson and Bryce Haney played.”

Johnson was the co-medalist with a 37 which Soukup said was probably his best round this year, considering the conditions and the difficulty of the golf course. Haney shot a 38.

Riley Brown shot a 44. Soukop said Brown has “improved tremendously” throughout the season. Soukop said that Brown had one “really bad hole” and that if he hadn’t had that, he could have shot a 40 or 41.

Harness contributed a 45 while A.J. Henry had a 47.

The tri-match was Wayne’s last tune-up for the sectional tournament which will be held at Beavercreek Golf Course at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Soukup said that in his opinion, that Springboro is one of the best five teams in the state with six solid players.

“So, it was good for us to get to play with them and kind of get the feeling of where they’re at,” said Soukup. “Troy’s also a really good team; they’re in a different sectional than we are…They’ve got two of the best golfers in the Greater Western Ohio League also. So, it was good to play kids who have seen success this year and kind of give us an idea of where we stood going in the sectionals.”

Soukup said Wayne is looking to qualify as a team for the third year in a row to the district tournament. He said he’d like the team to have a score of 325 or under and said he feels comfortable that if they shoot that score, they can advance as a team.

Soukup said he believes that Springboro, Centerville and Butler are the three best teams at district and will likely advance. He indicated that Fairmont, Middletown, Miamisburg and Northmont are all capable of shooting in the 320s as Wayne seeks to be the fourth team to advance out of sectional. He said he thinks Wayne can shoot under 320 as Haney, Johnson and Harness are capable and have all shot in the 70s while Henry and Riley are capable of shooting in the low 80s.

“If the kids play up to their ability, then we’ll have no problems,” said Soukup. “But, it’s the way golf goes, you never know what’s going to happen on any given day. The only thing we can control is how we play. We can’t control how other teams play.”

Three members of the squad were named to the All-GWOC squad. Haney was a first team All-Central selection while Harness was second team All-Central and Johnson was an All-Central special mention selection. Coach Soukup was named GWOC All-Central Coach of the Year.

“It just goes to show how hard the kids have worked through the last four years,” said Soukup. “So, I’m glad to see that they’re getting recognized just as much as I am.”

Members of the Wayne golf team from left to right include Seth Marks, Howie Viau, James Frantz, James Harness, Hunter Vaughn, Bryce Haney, Riley Brown, Zach Johnson, A.J. Henry and head coach Jon Soukup.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2015/10/web1_Boys_golf_22.jpgMembers of the Wayne golf team from left to right include Seth Marks, Howie Viau, James Frantz, James Harness, Hunter Vaughn, Bryce Haney, Riley Brown, Zach Johnson, A.J. Henry and head coach Jon Soukup. Photo by Greg Smart

Soukup named GWOC Central Coach of the Year, three players named to Central squad